DRS to Make Thermal Binoculars

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 6 -- DRS Technologies Inc. announced it has received $46 million in initial funding to produce thermal binocular system tactical-range thermal imagers under a five-year contract valued at $660 million, including options, for the US Marine Corps. The

Tactical range thermal imagers are lightweight, handheld, battery-operated, infrared binoculars used by the military for long-range observation and reconnaissance. DRS said the imagers will incorporate technology from thermal weapon sights it produced last year for the US Army, including advanced night-vision technology and 640- by 480-pixel uncooled thermal imaging technology.

The contract was awarded by the US Marine Corps Systems Command, Infantry Weapons Branch, in Quantico, Va. For the initial award, DRS will deliver more than 3800 systems; it will produce more than of 28,000 systems over the life of the contract, if all options are exercised. Work will be performed by the DRS Optronics unit in Palm Bay, Fla., DRS Infrared Technologies in Dallas, Texas, and DRS Nytech Imaging Systems in Irvine, Calif. Product
deliveries are expected to be completed by September 2010.

For more information, visit: www.drs.com